Are one of the birds on its' way out of the nest?

The plight of the Pittsburgh Penguins has worsened in the last few weeks with their loosing streak reaching nine games last night against the Phoenix Coyotes.
With this streak showing no signs of ending soon, we all have to start wondering about the “Kovie watch”, where he may end up and what the penguins may get in return? In loosing 9 games in a row, the Penguins find themselves in a similar fate as last year. They are barraged with injuries to Straka (go figure), and their defensive corps is depleted with injuries: D Hans Jonsson (hip), D Janne Laukkanen (hip), D Dick Tarnstrom (foot), D Michal Rozsival (shoulder), D Josef Melichar (shoulder). They have resorted to calling up several younger players from Wilkes-Barre Scranton when they are not prepared for the National Hockey League.

With this all said, is it time to think about dealing Kovalev to improve this team’s quality of depth offensively and defensively. Craig Patrick has stated he improved the teams depth in the offseason in order to prepare the team incase the same rash of injuries occured again this year. The signings of Vlad Vujtek and ALex Daigle have not worked out like he had thought, with Vujtek returning to the finish league and Daigle having cleared waivers and being sent down to Wilkes-Barre Scranton. He made a very big mistake in not trading Robert Lang and allowing him to walk as a free agent obtaining nothing in return. Patrick has to make a move to bring more talent onto this team. THey have a collection of third and fourth liners and need an infusion of talent.

The time is right to trade Kovalev and acquire two-three NHL caliber players already on a roster.

The question remains who does Patrick ask for? Rumors have him talking to Colorado for Tanguay and possiblty Skoula or Radim Verbata. Either way the Penguins need to reverse their fortune of late. When govenor elect Ed Rendell takes office at the beginning of January, they will deal directly with him asking for public/state funding for a new arena. Having the team in last place at that time will not improve their causes.

Has anybody heard any rumors of late as to where Kovalev may go? Do you think his value has decreased due to his horrid +/- rating??

64 Responses to Are one of the birds on its' way out of the nest?

There’s no way the Pens would take McCaulley and Pilar for Kovalev. Look what it took to get Kasper last year, and Kovalev is way more valuable. It will come down to the trade deadline again, and teams will keep making higher bids for him. With teams like Detroit, Dallas, Colorado and Vancouver all looking to get him, his price will be driven up. It will take a Boyes or Coliacovo to get him.

If Mario deals Kovalev, he’s gonna want someone who can play this year, next year at the latest, not someone 4 or 5 years down the road. Colaiacovo may have started the season on the big club, put he saw more ice time in practice than actual games, so he may be two or three years away yet. Boyes, Barrett and Harrison are at least playing in the American League, so they might be closer than anyone currently in junior. Hell, the guys he got for Jagr haven’t even come through for him yet. McCauley might peak his interest based on last year’s playoffs, but I doubt if Green would be anything more than a throw-in. Karel Pilar could be someone they would like, he’s been up and down this season and last.

THORNTON IS NOT WORTH TWO KOVALEVS…AT LEAST NOBODY IN THEIR RIGHT MIND WOULD GIVE YOU TWO KOVIES FOR A THORNTON….YOU HAVE TO BE SICK TO THINK THAT. TWO KOVIES WOULD EQUAL YOU WELL OVER 100 PTS. PER SEASON, WITH 40 GOALS EACH. ONE THORNTON CAN’T GET 80 GOALS AND OVER 150PTS. LIKE TWO KOVIES.

I WOULD TRADE GUERIN STRAIGHT UP FOR THORNTON ANYDAY. I’D ALSO TRADE MARTIN BRODEUR, AND WELL YOU’D HAVE TO GIVE ME SOMETHING BACK IF WE DECIDED ON MARIO LEMIEUX…

I AM NOT IMPLYING I WANT THE PENGUINS TO TRADE KOVIE FOR PROSPECTS. I WANT NHL CALIBER READY PLAYERS WHO HAVE ALREADY ESTABLISHED THEMSELVES IN THE LEAGUE, HENCE THE PLAYERS I REFERRED TO IN THE ARTICLE FROM COLORADO. IF WE RECEIVED QUALITY IN RETURN, I BELIEVE FAN INTEREST WOULD BE REKINDLED IN THE TEAM HERE IN PGH, BECAUSE IT WOULD BE OBVIOUS WE ARE TRYING TO IMPROVE THE TEAM WITH QUALITY PLAYERS. TRADING QUALITY AND RECIEVING QUALITY.

WE DON’T KNOW HOW THE PENGUINS WOULD BE DOING IF THEY DIDN’T HAVE THESE INJURIES. TO SPECULATE, IT WOULD JUST BE AVOIDING THE REAL ISSUE; THIS TEAM HAS LOST 10 GAMES IN A ROW AND, AFTER THEIR MISERABLE PERFORMANCE LAST NIGHT, THAT STREAK IS SHOWING NO SIGNS OF ENDING.

DAIGLE HAS BEEN PUT ON WAIVERS. HE CLEARED WAIVERS AND HAS BEEN SENT TO WILKES-BARRE. HIS WORK ETHIC HAS AGAIN COME INTO QUESTION. WHEN THIS KID FINDS HIS HEART FOR THE GAME, HELL WILL HAVE FROZEN OVER.

A TRADE OF MOROZOV WILL DO NOTHING FOR THIS TEAM. WHAT DO YOU EXPECT TO GET IN RETURN? A FOURTH OR FIFTH DEFENSEMAN?? THAT IS ALL HE IS WORTH. HIS NUMBERS ARE VERY INCONSISTENT. NOT TO MENTION HE IS OUT FOR ANOTHER 8 WEEKS AT LEAST, AFTER FINDING ANOTHER BROKEN BONE IN HIS WRIST THROUGH A CAT SCAN. HE MAY NOT BE BACK UNTIL FEBRUARY AT THE EARLIEST.

I WOULDN’T DEAL HRDINA. THE REASON WHY IS BECAUSE HE DOES THINGS THAT MOST PLAYERS ON THIS TEAM DON’T. HE PLAYS DEFENSE AND CAN CREATE AND SCORE FOR WHOMEVER HIS WINGERS ARE. HE IS COMING INTO HIS OWN AND WILL BE A SOLID CONTRIBUTOR IN THE YEARS TO COME. HE IS ALSO A CHEAP AND AFFORDABLE.

THEY HAVE TRIED TO DEAL LAUKKANEN BEFORE THE BEGINNING OF THE SEASON I BELIEVE I HEARD THE CANUCKS WERE INTERESTED, HOWEVER WITH HIS 1.5 MIL SALARY IT MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT. HE IS EXTREMELY OVERPAID.

AT THIS POINT I AM NOT SURE HEDBERG IS THE CLEAR NUMBER ONE. HE IS VERY INCONSISTENT AT HIS POSITIONING IN THE NET. AUBIN HAS BEE MORE CONSISTENT AND THEREFORE SHOULD GET MORE PLAYING TIME.

2 “kovie”s is perhaps a slight exaggeration I’ll grant you that. But it would take a lot more than just him to move Thornton.

Guerin is overrated….I loved having him on my team….but he’s not worth near as much as thornton. Joe can score 40 and have 60 or 70 assists. All bill can do is knock in 40, he’s not a playmker, he’s a scorer….joe’s both. Joe plays mean, hits, plays D and scores over a point a game. He makes anyone he plays with better. Guerin needs a premier center or he’s a glorified checker….Players like Joe make players like Guerin all stars.

It’s my opinion that Thornton is a better player…but the main thing is he’ll be a better player for years! He’s so young and is only going to get better.

If brodeur was younger I’d consider Thornton for him….but right now?….not a chance. Same with Lemieux…he could retire at the end of the year. Joe could play another 15 scoring over 100pts. a year.

I say again…there’s not a single player in the league you could trade straight up for him.

the penguins have to get rid of him by trade if they cant afford to make a deal. if they go for anyone its has to be a good player for a lesser amount than kovy. last time the pens made it deal it was a disaster, getting rid of jagr for 3 nobodys that dont play, that was a waste. tangauy sounds like a good idea and add vrbata also. i think if he is traded, the pens best move would be to send him to the western confrence. kovy is an amazing player and he can be a difference maker. on a final note the penguins should try and try again to keep him but if all else fails trade him for what you can get. another stunt like losing lang for no return or getting nothing for jagr could screw up the whole penguin francise.